definition of a cliche: whatever the other guy says that sounds annoying.
define cliche - Marti, that is such a cliche.
Instead of defining it, I will explain its etymology.
It is a French word from the vocabulary of printing presses.
This came from the time when book and newspaper printing was done by manual assembly of individual letters cast from movable type.
Because it was a labor intensive operation, some often used phrases where pre-assembled as a block (the ancient version of cut and paste).
posted by Raouf
over 2 years ago
Back in the typing days, we used to call it boilerplate.
Thanks Raouf. I wonder if the news will someday be pre-fab blocks of text. Or is that already happening?
Defined?: Been There Done That.
I have long suspected that the news is constantly recycled with current names and places inserted along with appropriate pictures .
posted by Dirck
over 2 years ago
Face the music it is easier said then done not to face up to it that clichés are here to stay so just bite the bullet and accept it.
I mean you can't kick a dead horse.
posted by yichel
over 2 years ago
I am interested in the difference between a cliche and a proverb.
For example, I think than an expression like "kick a dead horse" is a cliche but "looking a gift horse in the mouth" is a proverb, is that correct?
Are cliches and proverb mutually exclusive categories or do they overlap?
How do native speakers learn which are the cliches and which are the proverbs?
Do any cliches migrate over time to become proverbs or the other way around?
posted by Raouf
over 2 years ago
Wow! Great observation Raouf. I think a cliche is an overused proverb which reverts to a proverb again after a generation or two.
Look at it this way. When newspapers disappear, we will still have cliches.
